Ho, Ho, Hoe...

[Tom leaving Kairn Stone for dead, second time up the Hoe hill]

[Andy, enjoying it rather too much]

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The Plymouth Hoe 10 (miles) Race, which started and finished at the Brickfields, Devonport, was also the annual Peninsula Challenge between Devon and Cornwall. The first of the 558 runners to finish, Jim Cole of Tavistock A C in 52:06, led home the victorious Devon County squad that included Exmouth athlete Tom Merson who was 2nd in 52:13.

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Although Devon won the men’s race easily, the women’s event could not have been closer. Devon and Cornwall finished on the same number of points, but the Duchy were awarded the title on countback.

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Harrier Andy Johnson had an unusual experience. He completed the race in 1:08:29, but was not included in the official results list. Had he appeared there, he would have come 110th.

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Exmouth Harriers were well represented by eleven runners in the 9th Sidmouth Four Trigs Challenge, out of the field of 92 who completed the race. The 15 – 16 mile Fell Runners’ Association Cat. B course started and finished at Sidmouth Sailing Club and visited each of the four Triangulation Pillars around the Sid Valley, with what the organisers described as “…an obscene amount of climb involved!” The hardest part of the event, however, was trying to finish the enormous Hayman’s pasty that was given to each runner to restock the energy reserves after the race.

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The event was won by Edd Charlton-Weedy in 2:19:07 and the first Harrier to finish, after a superb, strong run, was Jon Croome, 4th in 2:27:34. Paul Champion also had an excellent race to come 28th in 3:01:00, Lorraine Croome was 40th in 3:14:08 and Tim Gent was 43rd in 3:19:45. Dawn Teed, Lorraine Slight and Terry Oldham were 62nd equal in 3:44:09. Nicky Crook ran really well and was 66th in 3:45:12, with her coach Steve Merry 67th in 3:45:30. Sue Wilkin also had a very good race to come 78th in 4:04:23 and Les Turner was 79th in 4:05:10. Sue would have been several minutes faster without the handicap of having to drag Les around the course behind her – he did finish all his pasty, though!

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Last but not least, Exmouth Harrier John Perratt took part in the South West Veterans A C 5K Road Championships at Barton St David, Somerset. There are no prizes for guessing that he was 1st V70 and his time was 22:19.

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(LT)

Brooks Westward XC League - Round 5

Round 5, the penultimate race of the 6-round Brooks Westward Cross Country League 2008/09 series, was held on Sunday, 8th February, at Bovey Tracey in the picturesque National Trust grounds of the Parke Estate.

The race involved four laps of the course that commenced with a small loop around the flood plain of the river before rising steeply along the muddy track into the Blackmoor Copse. Several hundred metres along the wooded ridge, the course took a dogleg right turn down a steep incline back towards the river. At the bottom, another sharp dog-leg right turn took the runners back to the starting loop.

93 runners, including six Harriers, completed the senior men’s category that was won by O. Shilston of Cornwall A C in 34:06. Hugh Marsden led the Harriers home in 29th place, in 39:54. Bob Woodall was 68th in 48:32 and Lee Russell 77th in 50:24.

John Perratt was 3rd V60 and 79th overall in 50:35, Ray Elston 82nd in 51:29 and Jim Wyatt 87th in 53:23. Congratulations to Ray Elston, who has now completed all of the first five events and is already assured of 2nd or 3rd V60 over the series, dependent on the results of other runners in the final race at Redruth on Sunday, 22nd March. As the awards are based on the best five races out of the six-race series, Ray does not need to take part in the final event. And if Jim Wyatt, who has only completed four races so far, runs well at Redruth, he could achieve 3rd or 4th V60 over the series.

Jamie Pearson is having to battle really hard for a top three place over the whole series in the U17 men’s category. On this occasion he was 2nd in17:55 behind the strong Cornwall A C runner, J. Waldie. It looks likely that these two athletes will take 2nd and 3rd place over the series behind Tom Gill of Tavistock A C, but everything again depends on the results at Redruth.

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(LT)

Blackmore Vale 13.1 & Fulfords '5'

A freezing cold Sunday morning in Dorset was the setting for the annual Blackmore Vale Half Marathon. The race starts in the village of Bishops Caundle before heading out along quiet country lanes with plenty of hills, including a long drag up the final mile to the finish. 550 runners took part and the race was won by Doug Hall of VOTwo in 1:13:58, with Sara Winter the first lady in 1:22:01. Exmouth Harriers Jenny Timms and Mark Thompson were 64th in 1:30:25 and 68th in 1:30:52, respectively.

Although the weather stayed dry for this year’s Fulfords’ Great West Run Five Mile Road Race, the runners had to endure a bitterly cold wind, particularly along Exmouth’s exposed sea front. Congratulations to the winner, Exmouth runner Tom Merson of South West Road Runners in 25:26.

Twelve Harriers competed in the race and it was good to see the group led home by its two youngest runners – hopefully this bodes well for the future! Seventeen-year old Jamie Pearson, continuing his rapid development, was 6th in 27:43. Even younger Adam Cornish, still sixteen, was 23rd in 30:45. Well done, Jamie and Adam!!

Andy Kennedy was 42nd in 33:24, Emma Dupain 51st in 33:44 and Lee Russell 80th in 35:09, all turning in excellent performances.

Also outstanding were John Perratt, 1st V70 and 81st overall in 35:22, Ray Elston, 1st V65 and 100th overall in 36:51 and Jim Wyatt, 3rd V65 in 38:22. Congratulations to the three award winners!

Ben White was 85th in 35:59, Nicky Crook 159th in 40:35, Stan Mason 175th in 42:21 and Joan Mason 178th in 42:31.

As on previous occasions, the race followed the lead car provided by Fulfords, who have now sponsored the event for at least ten years. Before presenting the awards, Bob Keast said how grateful the Club are for the continued support of Fulfords, who provide assistance on race day as well as sponsoring the event. He also thanked the Air Cadets, who turned out in force to do a great job once again, St John Ambulance, the police and all the members of the Harriers who helped out on the day. Without all this assistance, we could not put on the race.